Rethink Short-Term Contract For Miners-Otumfuo Advises Newmont
His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has expressed concerns about Short Term contracts for mining workers.
He says such contracts must be reviewed so as to give workers an assurance of the future.
“I’m getting a bit concerned about the mineworkers being given short-term contracts, I think it’s becoming a norm in the mining sector. Previously I knew that when employees are employed they are taken through training and everything for them to rise up, but the report I’m getting is that they are all given short term contract so they are not assured of the future in terms of long term employment. Those are some of the things that I think we may have to look at very seriously.”
“If I have a student from KNUST for example coming into employment and he doesn’t know the future because he’s being given a short-term contract then I get concerned about it.
This came up when the Newmont Board of Directors paid a courtesy call on him at Manhyia Palace where their new Senior Vice President succeeding Mr. Francois Hardey was introduced.
Following the introduction came an update by Newmont’s Board Chairperson, Madam Joyce Aryee on the activities of the company.
She reported to Asantehene that, as a result of the Appiate explosion, cautious steps have been taken at their quarters to ensure safety to avoid possible Appiate incidence.
“With what recently happened with the explosives and we mining on Otumfuo’s land, we’ve taken steps to prevent such incidence.
“Those who manufacture explosives for us have been given a place at the mines so that they manufacture them for us only when needed.
“We want to assure the King that we will ensure safety always as we work on his land.”
Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II welcoming the new senior vice president said “We expect that when you take over we will see progress with the mine and a peaceful coexistence with the workers and everybody.”
On the Apiate issue, he had this to say “we all got concerned about Appiate, I’m glad to hear that the approach in Newmont is different on-site, in production, and everything.”
Source: Opemsuo.com/ Monica M. Appiah-Manu
